There are numerous similarities between Muhammad Ali and his 23-year-old daughter Laila. She is the only one of his nine sons and daughters to have those genes that led to the ring(拳击场). Her father’s great status had nothing to do with Laila’s decision to pursue a boxing career. She has always been proud of his achievements, but he was never a great man to her—just dad.
What attracted her to take up boxing was the unusual sight of two women in the ring on the television screen when she was about to watch a Mike Tyson fight five years ago. She was very excited and said to herself, “I can do that. ”
Laila’s father would prefer her not to take up the dangerous sport. Johnny McClain, her husband and manager (former boxer himself) feels the same way. Even though both the men in her life worry about her, they’re 100 percent supportive. “They don’t want me to get hurt, ” she says.
Long before entering the ring, Laila was a fighter. Being the daughter of an outstanding boxer made her an easy target for high school kids to see how tough she was. They, not she, failed in the test. For the public, her biggest test took place last summer in the New York State when she took on Jacqui Frazier Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, her father’s most famous opponent (对手) during the 1970s.
That fight provided the biggest shot in the arm that women’s boxing has received. News reporters poured in. Some called it “Ali/Frazier-GenerationⅡ”. No match involving women had ever attracted so much attention. Laila had a narrow victory in the fight.
Like it or not, she accepts the fact that she is the face of female boxing. And she hopes that her name and fame will help get the public to take it more seriously.
The name Ali has and always will bring her attention. But she is determined to make her own mark on opponents’ faces as well as in boxing history books. She says, “I want women’s boxing to get its due respect. ”
49. Laila took up boxing because of ________.
A. her father’s great status B. a Mike Tyson fight
C. her admiration for her father D. her interest in boxing
50. From the passage we can know ________.
A. Laila’s husband is still a boxer now
B. Laila wants to make contributions to the sport of boxing
C. Laila’s husband doesn’t think boxing is a dangerous sport
D. when Laila was in high school, she often failed in the fight with other kids
51. Which of the following is the best title for the passsage?
A. A female boxer—Laila Ali B. The best-known fight
C. Ali/Frazie-GenerationⅡ D. Muhammad Ali and his daughter
Your house may have an effect on your figure . Experts say the way you design your home could play a role in whether you pack on the pounds or keep them off. You can make your environment work for you instead of against you. Here are some ways to turn your home into part of your diet plan.
Open the curtains and turn up the lights . Dark environments are more likely to encourage overeating , for people are often less self-conscious(难为情)when they’re in poorly lit places--and so more likely to eat lots of food . If your home doesn’t have enough window light, get more lamps and flood the place with brightness.
Mind the colors. Research suggests warm colors fuel our appetites. In one study, people who ate meals in a blue room consumed 33 percent less than those in a yellow or red room. Warm colors like yellow make food appear more appetizing, while cold colors make us feel less hungry. So when it’s time to repaint, go blue.
Don’t forget the clock-or the radio. People who eat slowly tend to consume about 70 fewer calories(卡路里) per meal than those who rush through their meals. Begin keeping track of the time, and try to make dinner last at least 30 minutes. And while you’re at it, actually sit down to eat. If you need some help slowing down, turn on relaxing music. It makes you less likely to rush through a meal.
Downsize the dishes. Big serving bowls and plates can easily make us fat. We eat about 22 percent more when using a 12-inch plate instead of a 10-inch plate. When we choose a large spoon over a smaller one ,total intake(摄入) jumps by 14 percent. And we’ll pour about 30 percent more liquid into a short, wide glass than a tall, skinny glass.The text is especially helpful for those who care about_______.
A.their home comforts | B.their body shape |
C.house buying | D.healthy diets |
A home environment in blue can help people_________.
A.digest food better | B.reduce food intake |
C.burn more calories | D.regain their appetites |
What are people advised to do at mealtimes?
A.Eat quickly. | B.Play fast music. |
C.Use smaller spoons. | D.Turn down the lights. |
What can be a suitable title for the test?
A.Is Your House Making You Fat? |
B.Ways of Serving Dinner |
C.Effects of Self-Consciousness |
D.Is Your Home Environment Relaxing? |
The other day, I noticed a message on a friend’s page. It made me very sad. She says she is the one
who reaches out to people, but rarely do they reach out to her. So, after communicating with her for a while, I began to challenge my friends. “Contact someone right now. Send messages or call someone who you haven’t spoken to for a while, or who you only talk to when they message or call you. Let someone who may feel alone in the world right this moment know that they are not alone. That is my challenge to you. Please do it , and let me know once you have. Either by calling me back, or by sending me a message. Be the change that you want to see in the world. ”
The response was great. 28people liked my post, another 10 posted that they did, and I got about a dozen messages telling me that they did. And there was one very special message:
“I just want you to know what has happened. That day, I sent a message to a friend who I hadn’t heard from for a while. She and I talked for a whole day back and forth on messages and then on the phone. She said she was so incredibly sad. Nobody has spoken with her in two weeks. By the tone of her voice, and by the conversations we were having, I think she was about to take her own life(自杀). After our conversation, she has agreed to talk to someone. Your message of kindness has saved her. I can’t wait to tell you how thankful I am for people like you in the world, who care when nobody else will. I am proud to call myself your friend. Thank you! ”
I didn’t quite know what to say after reading the message. I was wondering how best to use it for greater good. I decided that sharing what we have done is the most powerful way. I know that I am a cheerleader when it comes to making the world a better place with kindness, because if I help someone, it makes me feel better. I do it because I need to feel better.What made the author unhappy?
A.She can’t reach out to anyone. |
B.No one responds to her friend. |
C.None of her friends contacts her. |
D.She has no time to visit her friends. |
What did the author challenge her friends to do?
A.Turn to their friends for help. |
B.Visit their families and relatives. |
C.Contact someone in need of help. |
D.Share their problems on their page: |
What do we know about the special message?
A.Someone was saved by her friend. |
B.People were too busy to talk with others. |
C.The girl was sad because no one liked her. |
D.The author helped her friend by calling her. |
Which word can best describe the author?
A.Determined. | B.Cold-hearted. |
C.Stubborn. | D.Inspiring. |
Since around the later part of the 1950s, society started to realize that tobacco cigarettes caused health problems. As research progressed along with increasing numbers of people that developed lung cancer, emphysema, and other smoking related illnesses, cigarette smoking has become less accepted and popular. Unfortunately, the nicotine contained in cigarettes is one of the most addictive substances on the planet and makes quitting smoking one of the hardest things to do. In 2003, Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik invented the electronic cigarette as a safer, and cleaner way to breathe in nicotine after his father, a heavy smoker, passed away from lung cancer attributed to smoking tobacco cigarettes.
Hon Lik applied for his first patent on the electronic cigarette in 2003 and afterwards introduced e-cigs to the Chinese market in the following year through his employer, Golden Dragon Holdings. Golden Dragon Holdings later changed the company’s name to “Ruyan” in order to better match the company’s name(Ruyan means “almost like smoke”)to the new product. Since the renaming, the Ruyan company has continued e-cigarette development and grown to be one of the largest global e-cig manufactures.
Dr.Sam Han, CEO of Cixi E-CIG Technology, Inc, Ltd. also has a number of e-cig related inventions, including four patents in the United States and two in China that are electronic cigarette and e-liquid technology related. Similar to Hon Lik’s father. Dr. Han was a heavy smoker for more than 40 years before beginning to work on electronic cigarette technologies in order to help himself and others make the shift to vapor smoking. Dr.Han continues to market and conduct R&D in e-cig related techonologies to this date.
After the successful deployment of Ruyan and Cixi E-CIG electronic cigarettes in China and Asia, the products started to be sold in significant quantities on the Internet.How many years is it since the electronic cigarette was first invented according to the passage?
A.About 5 years. | B.About 11 years. |
C.About15 years. | D.About 20 years. |
What’s the direct reason why Hon Lik invented the electronic cigarette according to the passage ?
A.Tobacco cigarettes caused health problems. |
B.Tobacco cigarettes were too expensive for customers to buy. |
C.Quitting smoking became one of the hardest things to do. |
D.His father died from lung cancer due to smoking tobacco cigarettes. |
Since when have Chinese smokers have been able to buy Hon Lik’s electronic cigarettes according to the passage?
A.2000. | B.2003. | C.2004. | D.2005. |
What’s the correct order of the following events according to the passage?
①Hon Lik applied for his first patent on the electronic cigarette.
②Hon Lik’s father died from lung cancer because of smoking tobacco cigarettes.
③Hon Lik’s electronic cigarettes were introduced to the Chinese market.
④The name of the company Golden Dragon Holdings was changed to “Ruyan”.
A.①③②④ | B.①④②③ | C.②④①③ | D.②①③④ |
Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Why are these old Italian violins so special? Many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremons knew something special about wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut into the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new ones still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish (清漆), which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old violins left. So these old violins are becoming more and more precious.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.The Secrets of Cremona Violins |
B.The History of Italian Violins |
C.Special Musical Instruments |
D.How to Make the Best Violins |
The main purpose of the first paragraph is to _______.
A.list some facts | B.raise a question |
C.give an opinion | D.offer an answer |
What is still unclear about Cremona violins according to the writer?
A.The shape. | B.The size. |
C.The wood. | D.The varnish. |
What can we learn from this passage?
A.Modern things are always better than ancient ones. |
B.Ancient things are always better than modern ones. |
C.Once a cultural relic is lost, it can never be recovered. |
D.Varnish for violins will become more and more precious. |
There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy; the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine, and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation(仿效). It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrong doings. These people should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they don’t, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.People who are unhappy ______.
A.always consider things differently from others |
B.usually are affected by the results of certain things |
C.usually misunderstand what others think or say |
D.always discover the unpleasant side of certain things |
The underlined phrase “sour the pleasure of society” in the second paragraph means ______.
A.have a good taste with social life |
B.make others unhappy |
C.tend to scold others openly |
D.enjoy the pleasure of life |
We can conclude from the second paragraph that_______.
A.we should pity all such unhappy people. |
B.such unhappy people are dangerous to social life. |
C.people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness. |
D.unhappy people can not understand happy persons. |
If such unhappy person insists on keeping the habit, the author suggests people should______.
A.prevent any communication with them. |
B.show no respect and politeness to them |
C.persuade them to recognize the bad effects |
D.quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes |